Highest Attorney Jobs in Santa Rosa, CA (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $153,236.35 - $186,254.59 Annually
Location : Santa Rosa, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26/07-4010-OC
Department: District Attorney's Office (DAO)
Opening Date: 07/31/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Bargaining Unit: 45
Position Information
The Sonoma County District Attorney's Office is seeking experienced and passionate attorneys to join their team!
Starting salary up to $89.24/hourly ($186,254/annually) and a competitive total compensation package!*
The District Attorney's Office is currently recruiting to fill two Deputy District Attorney positions at either the Deputy District Attorney I, II, III, or IV levels depending on qualifications. If you are interested in being considered at the different levels of this opportunity, you must apply to the separate concurrent recruitments being conducted for those levels.
The Positions
The Deputy District Attorney II position is a senior member of the Misdemeanor Team who is responsible for handling felony case work. They will review police reports to determine whether the District Attorney's Office should file criminal charges, will prosecute criminal cases from initial arraignment through completion, including jury trials, and will be responsible for a high volume of cases and must actively engage with other attorneys.
This position will also be expected to routinely make independent decisions while exercising sound discretion. Due to the high volume of work, an attorney in this position cannot possibly consult with others before making every decision. However, the attorney in this position should consult with colleagues to ensure that all attorneys are consistently achieving uniform and just outcomes. For more serious cases involving vulnerable victims, this position is expected to consult with a Chief Deputy District Attorney.
The Ideal Candidates
In addition to holding a Juris Doctorate degree and being admitted to the California Bar, the ideal candidates will also possess experience that demonstrates an interest in practicing criminal prosecution. They will have one or more years of legal experience practicing as a licensed attorney, introductory experience with conducting jury trials, a solid understanding of the basic precepts of criminal law and procedure, a sound concept of legal research and writing, and the ability to independently handle daily court calendars. They will be selflessly committed to handling challenging work for the betterment of the community and be dedicated to ensuring equal justice and equal access to the criminal justice system for all citizens of Sonoma County regardless of race, gender, sexual identity, ethnic origin, or nationality. The ideal candidate will also possess many of the following:

• Experience in trial advocacy or other aspects of California criminal law as well as experience litigating jury trials and evidentiary hearings
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively in a public setting
• Effective negotiation skills when interacting with opposing attorneys
• Experience using an electronic case management system
• The ability to empathetically communicate with victims of crimes and other members of the public
• A team player mindset to actively engage with all members of the office
• The ability to thrive in a high demand, difficult decision-making environment
• Prior attendance at trainings presented by the California District Attorneys Association is desirable

Please note: A current, active member of the State Bar of California is required by date of hire, please see Questions 4 and 5.
Under the leadership of the District Attorney, Carla Rodriguez, the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office is the largest legal office in the County and has a staff of 138 employees including attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and clerical support. Our mission is to pursue justice for the people of Sonoma County through innovative prosecution, strategic legislative advocacy, and strong community partnerships, holding those who harm our community accountable while delivering victim-centered justice with integrity and professionalism. With a population in excess of 475,000, the office handles a wide variety of serious and complex criminal cases, as well as civil consumer protection and environmental crimes. Our core values are:

• Integrity - We uphold the highest ethical standards and do what's right, even when it's difficult
• Courage - We have the determination to fearlessly pursue justice, advocating relentlessly for victims and holding offenders accountable regardless of challenges or opposition.
• Results Focused - We pursue creative, evidence-based solutions that address harm, enhance public safety, and deliver meaningful justice for victims and our community.
• Professionalism - We conduct ourselves with competency, respect, and accountability while maintaining the highest standards of legal practice and public service.
• Victim Centered - We treat every victim with dignity, respect, and compassion while ensuring their voice is heard and their healing is supported throughout the justice process.

What We Offer
Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:

• Hybrid Telework- A schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending on the assignment
• Salary Advancement- A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement -With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Deputy District Attorney III ($175,338 - $213,115/annually)
• Paid Time Off- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness- Annual benefit allowances of up to $1,250 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Annual Professional Development Benefit - $452
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Additional Benefits: Excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, employee assistance program, professional development, and more
• Student Loan Debt Relief- County employees may be eligible for through the U.S. Department of Education

The District Attorney's Office is currently recruiting to fill two Deputy District Attorney positions at either the I, II, III, or IV levels. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment.
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Sonoma County Prosecutors' Association Memorandum of Understanding, (SCPA MOU) and our Employee Benefits directory.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.
Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Legal experience subsequent to membership in the State Bar of California, which directly relates to the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, one year of legal experience practicing as a licensed attorney in a position comparable to Deputy District Attorney I in Sonoma County; or equivalent experience with another prosecuting agency, would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed.
Professional License: Current active membership in the State Bar of California.
License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position. The positions advertised on this announcement do not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of: the duties, powers limitations, and authorities of the Office of the District Attorney; the principles of criminal law, principles of trial procedure, and rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedures; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.
Ability to: research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly, logically and persuasively in written and oral form; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff members, departmental representatives, county officials, the courts, law members, departmental representatives, county officials, the courts, law enforcement agency officials, and the general public; understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.
Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.
The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.
Additional Information
It is the policy of law enforcement and legal offices and departments, in the County of Sonoma, that candidates complete a thorough background investigation process prior to employment. This policy is imperative in order to keep the department's employees and the public safe and to maintain high standards in the law enforcement community. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to candidates.
The background investigation will include a thorough assessment of a candidate's personal, employment, educational, criminal, and credit history. The investigation may include but is not necessarily limited to: use of prescription and/or other drugs, reports from former employers, friends, family members, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies, credit reports, court reports, public records search, and/or other relevant sources. Candidates must be honest and forthcoming about information that may arise during the background process. Deception during any portion of this process is grounds for disqualification, even after employment.
Depending on the assignment, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment medical examination and may be required to take a polygraph examination. All candidates for law enforcement positions are required to undergo drug testing as part of the selection process. Additionally, candidates may be required to take a pre-employment psychological and physical abilities examination. The results of these examinations and the background investigation shall be confidential and shall not be available to the candidate for review. Failure to pass the background investigation will eliminate a candidate from the employment process. You may also